Apparatus for molding concrete.



C. W RODGERS-.

APPARATUSFOR MOLDING CONCRETE.

APPLLCATION FILED SEPT. 28. I912.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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APPARATUS FOR MOLDING CONCRETE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1912.

1 220,46 1 Patented Mar. 27, 1917-.

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CHARLES W. RODGERS, OF EAST IBRlIDGEV/ATER, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING CONCRETE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Mar. 2?, 191?.

Application filed September 28, 1912. Serial No. 722,843.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, (bunnies W. Rooonns, acitizen of the United States, and resident of East Bridgewater, in thecounty of Flym outh and State of .Massachusetts, have invented certainnew and useful improvements in Apparatus for Molding Concrete, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to concrete construction, and its object is toprovide improved molds in combination with improved concrete reinforcingmembers.

0f the accompanying drawings which illlustrate apparatus embodying thepresent invention Figure 1 represents a perspective view including aseries of separable molding units connected together in hinged relationfor molding a wall, spacing bars which first serve to space the moldingunits and which afterward remain permanently in the concrete andreinforce the same, a rod for reinforcing the concrete, and rods forconnect ing the aforesaid spacing bars.

Fig. 2 represents a molding unit of angular form which is adapted to beused with others of the same style instead of the hinged units shown byFig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a series of hinged molding units of the same style asthose shown by Fig. 1, the units being arranged for the construction ofan arch and suitably braced by detachable connecting members.

Fig. 4 is represents a perspective view of a hinge member included inFig. 3.

Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of a brace or strut adapted to beused in conjunction with the device shown by Fig. t.

Fig. 6 represents a top plan view of a wall molded by molding units suchas that shown by Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of one of the spacing bars includedin Figs. 1 and 6.

Fig. 8 represents a perspective view of structure similar to that shownby Fig. 3, the same being arranged for molding a bay or analogousstructure.

Fig. 9 represents a perspective view of a portion of a molded wall towhich are attached molding plates for forming finishing blocks ofconcrete upon the exterior of the wall.

Fig. 10 represents a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 9,showing'the same sec- Fig. 12 is a plan "iew of structure arranged formolding a curved wall.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever theyoccur.

Referring first to the apparatus shown by Fig. 1, the molding plates orunits are incheated at 12. One end of each plate 1S turned back andformed with a reverse curve, as indicated at 18, to the end that whentwo of these curved portions are placed adjacent each other a. shownthey will be adapted to mold undercut ribs such as those indicated at 13in Fig. 11. The ends of the molding plates are provided with ears 14-,those of one plate being adapted to cooperate with similar ears ofanother plate, to form a hinge when a suitable hinge pin such as 15 isinserted. A series comprising an in definite number of these units maythus be connected in hinged relation. When the plates are connected inseries, the straight or flat ends are placed together and the bent ends13 are placed together. The hinges not only serve to hold the severalunits in the desired relative position for molding, but they enable theplates to swing relatively to each other when removing them from thehardened concrete. The hinge connections are provided at thestraightends of the plates more for merely looking the plates togetherthan for permit-ting relative swinginginoveinent at these points, butthe capacity to swing is more important at the curved ends 13. Forexample, when a molded wall has hardened and it is desired to remove themold, it is not necessary to remove the hinge pins at the DOllltS wherethe concrete ribs 13 are formed, but it is only necessary to remove thepins from the joints midway between these ribs. of the plates, uponbeing disconnected from each other, may be swung away from the concrete,and in this way the curved ends 13 are opened sufiiciently'to enablethem to be removed laterally from the ribs When the molding plates areassembled for use, those which will be upon one side of the moldedconcrete may be spaced at the desired distance from those which will beat the opposite side of the concrete, by means The flat ends 1 (fli ofspacing bars 16like thatshown by Fi 7 l Vhil'e the primary function ofthese bars 1S to space the molding plates, an additional function is toreinforce the concrete which is molded about them, and they are alsoadapted to hold in place other reintorciiig "members hereinafterdescribed. The bar 16 ""fin the form shown is madeoi ductile sheet metaland is provided with a variety of tongues'and notches all of whichmay beproduced by a single blow ofa die press.

'- The length of the spacingbar is considerably 'inore'than thethickness or the wall which is to be molded, and the bar is placed sothat its len th will be at ri ht an les to the b O C thickness of thewall, and the ends of the bar will pro ect from'the wall so that theymaybe used for attaching other members of a wall structuresuch, torexainple,.as'inetal lath. The ton 'u'es 17, 17 and 18 are adapted toengage'the inner surface of the molding plates and thus prevent theplates from appreaching too closely toward each other. Theiunction ofthese tongues is to determine the space between the plates on one sideand the plates on the opposite side and lthus determine the thickness ofthe wall.

Thetongue 17" is preferably in adifferent vertical plane from the tongue17, so that one 'or the other, as desired, may be used for spacingtheplates and thus hold the r plates at a relatively great distanceapart or at'a less distance apart. The molding plates "are provided withsuitable notches 16 at their ends, which notches register with eachother when the plates are assembled, and provide suthcient space torthereception or i the spacing bars. 7 nated are intended for-use when thespacing The notches just desigbars will stand upright; but if it shouldbe desired to arrangethe spacing bars so that their broad flat surfacesare horizontal iiisteado t vertical, the barsmay be inserted n thenotches indicated at 16.

It will be observed referrin to Fi 1 7 V I a c a that the molding platesOI the series on one side 01"- the wall are staggered with relation "tothose on the other side, this arrangement being adapted to produce awall of which the ribs 13 are'staggered as shown by Fig. 11. From thisit followsthat the oint bep tween two flat ends of the plates on oneside slot the ,Wall'Wlll be in l ne with the oint between the curvedends 13 on the opposite side, and a spacing bar at this point willproject "more from the straight joint-than from the curved jointopposite;v .:'It inay be ,stated at this point that the tongues 17,17and 18 will'be embeddedin the molded concrete andviemain fixed. It

will'be observed that thefremaining metal from which the tongue 18 isstruck out 'de fines av relatively large notch 19;aiid two relativelysmall notches 20, 20, which aregopposite each other. Each notch 19 isopen at :the end of the bar and is adapted to receive a rod 2l'which maybe inserted'laterally,

and the notches 20, 20, are adapted to re-' 7 ceive a key QZior securingthe rod 21.in;the notch 19.- In some 11181331106311] may be desirabletouse therod 21 forfbracing the as seinbled molding units prior :.topouring the concrete, and 'it' is thus-shownassembled for:

this purpose. this casethe rod :21 will." 7 be removed after theconcrete has hardened, in order to facilitate". the 'removalntthemolding plates. The rod may thereafterbe restored to this positionltilSiClGSlI'GCl to otherwise use. it, as hereinatter explained.

The keys 22 are made otsmall bits of sheet metal and areprefer-ably.:wedge-shaped' so that when they are driven into the'notches 20 they will become tightly bound to the spacing bar '16. 'Th'etongues 18 which are outside the fiat joints of the molding platesrather than the curved joints, remain eX- posed a'lterithe wall ismolded, but the notches 19 thereby provided are nevertheless adapted toreceivetherod 21 in the same manner as the notohes 19., V

,The spacing bars 16 a 'enotclied, as indicated at 23, for the receptionof a rod 2 1.

for reinforcing the concrete. 7 These notches are open at the edges ofthe bars, and the reinforcing rods are therefore adapted to be insertedlaterally. .One edge or" 'eachnotch 23 is provided with. a smaller notch'25 in' whicha wedge 22 may be driven'iorjbinding the 7 rod Qelrelatively to the spacing 7 bar he tongue 26 whichis struck out from'thespacing bar in' forming the notch 23: may be used, if desired, tootherwise seeurethe rod ice 1 21 by binding the rod and tongue togetherwith wire. The spacingibar s provided with one more notch, indicatedat27, from V which a tongue 28 is 'strnckiaThis notch" 'and,tongiie aresubstant allythe same as ice those indicated at'23 and 26, and areprovided for securing rea forreinforcing the As shown by Fig. 11, these,ribs 29 extending longitudinally ribs 13*. have rods throughthem, buttheribs maylbeniade' V with or. without these rods. In case it is,

V desired to provide the ribSWVithj reinforcing rods, some of thespacingbars 16. may be disposed so that their fiat surfaces are horizontal, asshownat the bottom ofithemoldv 1 ing plates in Fig.1. In this event'thespacing bars so disposed arefadapted'tobe se-' V cured to the rods 29linsubstantially the samenianiier as the method above described e r forsecuring therods 2 1- male matters;

and in'securing the spacing bargj 1 When the molding plates are allremoved from the wall, leaving the ends of the spacing bars projectingin some instances from the ribs 13 and in other instances midway betweenthe ribs, the wall is ready to receive both exterior and interiorfinishing. For eX- ample, it may be desired to attach ornamentalconcrete blocks to the exterior, or it may be desirable to attach uponboth sides metal lath 42 as shown by Fig. 6, that upon the inner sidebeing for the usual plaster, and that on the outer side serving as afoundation for stucco work. The projecting ends of the spacing bars areespecially adapted to receive and secure metal laths. The two paralleltongues which are formed as the resultof providing the notch 19 mayproject through openings in the metal lath and may be bent laterally soto clench the lath against the ribs 13*. Instead of clenching the lathin this manner it may be preferable to use the rods 21, which, asalready stated, are useful for another purpose than steadying theassembled molding units prior to and during the pouring. In the event ofusing the rods 21 to secure the metal lath, the former will be securedto the spacing bars before the metal lath is attached, the eys 22 beingused to secure the rods in the manner hereinbefore explained. When therods 21 have thus been secured, the metal lath must be placed againstthem, the projecting ends of the spacing bars being inserted through theopenings in the metal lath and then bent laterally so as to clench thelath in place. In order to facilitate the bending of the ends of thespacing bar for this purpose, the ends of the bar are slit, as indicatedat 30, thus providing a plurality of relatively narrow tongues which maybe easily bent. The metal lath may then be secured to the rods along thestretches between the ribs 13 by any suitable means, such as wire, thusbracing the metal lath so that it will. not be so likely to bulge whenloaded with plaster.

Fig. 10 illustrates a concrete finishing block which is molded upon andinterlocked with a core wall previously erected. Fig. 9 illustratesmolds secured to a core wall in position to mold a finishing block suchas that shown by Fig. 10. The core wall is here indicated at w, and thefinishing block is indicated at 31. The block is provided with fourparallel ribs 32,one at each end and two near the middle. The two middleribs are shown as embracing one of the ribs 13 of the core wall, whilethe two end ribs 32 are interlocked with other ribs l3 of the core wall.The formation of these ribs, whereby they are undercut, secures theblock 31 to the core wall in dovetailed relation. The spaces indicatedat 33 afford air cells -whereby the transmission of heat and coldthrough the wall is rendered more difiicult.

The apparatus included in Fig. 9 for molding a block such as that shownby Fig. 10 comprises an exterior plate or mold 34 and two interiorplates or cores 45 for each block. The plate 34 is similar to that shownby Fig. 2. It is provided with notches 46 adapted to fit over spacingbars whose fiat surfaces are vertical, and is further provided withnotches 47 adapted to fit over spac ing bars whose fiat surfaces arehorizontal. The plate is therefore adapted to be secured to a core wallby means of spacing bars in either position. The keys 22 may be used forsecuring the plates 34 to the spacing bars. flat surface of the hardenedcore wall and The cores 45 are placed against the 0 may be held in placemanually or otherwise I until a suflicient quantity of concrete has beenpoured to hold them in place, after which they will be held against thepreviously constructed wall by the incoming concrete. When each block 31has set sufficiently, the cores 45 may be withdrawn endwise; and afterthe blocks have hardened, the molding plates 34 may be removed.

The same hinged molding plates which are used for straight walls areadapted to be used for curved walls, bays, arches, or other structurewhich is otherwise than straight. For example, Fig. 3 shows a series ofhinged plates 12 in position to form an arch. These plates are connectedto each other in the same relation as that shown in Fig. 1, but insteadof being connected by simple hinge pins 15, as shown in Fig. 1, they areconnected by hinge pins 35. (See Fig. 4). Each pin 35 is provided with ahead or handle 36 which is adapted to be used as a strut for bracing themolding plates. Each strut has a series of holes 37 for the reception ofa connecting pin 41. The struts which are adjacent the curved ends 13 ofthe molding plates are connected one with another by links 38. One ofthese links is illustrated alone by Fig. 5. Each end of each link isprovided with a series of holes 39, each hole being adapted to receive apin 40. The several holes 39 in the links, and the several holes 37 inthe struts, permit connecting the struts according to variousadjustments whereby the desired curvature of the series is obtained. Thestruts which lead to the hinge pins which connect the flat ends of themolding plates are secured to the links 38 midway between the ends ofthe latter by pins 41. This arrangement of links and struts is shown inperspective by Fig. 8, in which the molding plates stand upright onedge, in position to form a bay or curved wall.

The spacing bars 16 and additional molding plates for the outer side ofthe wall or bay may be used in conjunction with the molding plates asshown by Figs. 3 and 8, just as well as when the plates are arranged tosustain the pressure of the molded structure against said moldingmembers, said struts and bracing structurehaving adj ustable connectionsarranged to vary the angular relation of said molding members.

2. In combination, a series of molding members having connecting hinges,a series of braces extending approximately parallel to thefirst-mentioned series, each of said braces being as long as two suchmolding members, and struts each attached to one of said molding membersand to one of said braces, each ofsaid molding members having one ofsuch struts, said struts and braces having provisions for holding themin various relative positions to hold said molding members in variousangular relations.

8. In combination, a series of molding members having connecting hinges,strut-s connected to and extending from said molding membersrespectively, said struts being arranged in a series, and a series oftie rods each connecting three successive said struts,

said struts and tie rods being arranged to sustain conjointly outwardstress against said molding members.

4; The COlnblIliltlOILWlth molding units 7 arranged to cooperate to moldopposite surfaces of a single body, of means connecting the opposedmolding units to hold them in cooperative relation, lnnges connectingsaid units, braces extending away from said 7 units substantially atright angles to the axes of said hinges, braces'for' connecting saidfirst-mentioned braces with each other, and means for securing saidbraces to each' other in various relative positions whereby the moldingunits may be held at angles relatively to each other. 7

5; The combination with reinforcing members projecting from a moldedbody, of a molding member having provision for receiving the projectingportions of said reinforcing members, and keys for securing said moldingmember to said reinforcing members, said projecting portionsliavingp'rovision for the reception of said keys.

(3. The combination with reinforcing members, of a molded body havingparallel dove tail ribs, said reinforcing members projecting from saidribs, of a molding member having provision for receiving theprojectingportions of said reinforcing members, and keys for securing said moldingmember to said reinforcing members, said projecting portions havingprovision for receiving said keys. r

7. In combination, a series of molding members having connecting hinges,the pins of said hinges having laterally extending strut members, and aseries of braces extending approximately parallel to the first-mentionedseries, each of said braces being as being capable of variousadjustments of said braces and strut members to hold sald mold ingmembers in various angular relations.

in testimony whereof I have ai'iixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

em rates w. Bonsai-is.

lVitnesses lamina P. ,ABELL, Jae. H. CHURCHILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. a

